Top 10 Country Albums Of 2007
Without any album releases on the horizon for the remainder of the year, it’s time for us to publish The 9513′s Top Albums of 2007. The year saw an indie label revive an aging star’s career before his sudden death, one of the best albums put out by one of the genre’s finest female vocalists, and some strong traditional offerings. Some albums were highly touted, but failed to live up to the hype and others were downright bombs. So, all in all, we had a year like any other, but despite the great music that was released this year, the staff was in agreement that the quantity of quality albums was rather lacking.
After slapping each other silly, arguing to the bitter end, and finally coming to terms, we’ve compiled a list of top albums covering the wide swath that is the staff’s diverse musical affections. Each staff member has also compiled a list of their personal top albums of the year with brief commentary for those interested.
Top Country Albums of 2007
10. From The Cradle To The Grave, Dale Watson
Within the span of fifteen minutes Watson is able to transition from the subject of a father of a murdered child taking justice into his own hands to an ode to Johnny Knoxville and on to a song that deals with suicide, and he does so without ever coming off as disingenuous. Throw in the charm of strummed guitar strings minus the over-produced polish; a song from the perspective of a man facing Alabama’s infamous electric chair; some channeling of Watson’s inner Johnny Cash; and a train song and you’ve got the foundation for a solidly executed album from one of the genre’s most unwavering traditionalists. Dale Watson is a genius of the melancholy. — Brody Vercher
Recommended: “Justice For All,” “From the Cradle to the Grave,” “Yellow Mama”
9. Rhinestoned, Pam Tillis
Perhaps the best and most cohesive album from one of the genre’s greatest album artists, it’s also one of her most traditional. Tillis navigates a superb collection of songs that are celebratory (“Life Has Sure Changed Us Around,” “Band in the Window”), mournful (“Something Burning Out,” “Train Without a Whistle”) and reflective (“The Hard Way,” “Someone Somewhere Tonight”). — Matt C.
Recommended: “Something Burning Out,” “The Hard Way,” “Life Has Sure Changed Us Around”
8. 5th Gear, Brad Paisley
Paisley was able to brilliantly tap in to the male psyche on 5th Gear, an album that captured all of the goofiness, ruggedness, and yes, sensitivity, that was being a “guy” in 2007. Oh, and the album featured a ton of kick-ass guitar work, too. — Jim Malec
Recommended: “Letter To Me,” “If Love Was A Plane,” “Throttleneck”
7. Dollar Theater Movie, Drew Kennedy
Melodically addicting and lyrically introspective. Take just one listen to Dollar Theater Movie and you can tell the silver-tongued Kennedy is an acute observer of human interaction. He’s able take a solid, relatable theme or idea and meticulously craft an entire song around it without tripping over tired cliches–and he’s able to sustain that innovative glow for thirteen songs. There’s no skipper material here, folks. If you’re one of those listeners who champions fresh, intelligent song writing, do yourself a favor and check this one out. — Brody Vercher
Recommended: “One to Blame,” “Goodbye,” “The Last Waltz”
6. That Lonesome Song, Jamey Johnson
This former marine went into the studio to record his second album without the backing of a major label this go round and came out with an album that is decidedly different from his debut effort. He has already proven his abilities as a songwriter and That Lonesome Song solidifies his credentials as an artist with a distinctive southern twang to boot. What Johnson delivers on this under the radar release is a reflective, sometimes somber album, that no doubt derives inspiration from his semi-recent marital “freedom.” It can be harsh and hilarious, but wholly authentic. Try finding an album like this on a major label. — Brady Vercher
Recommended: “In Color,” “High Cost Of Living,” “That Lonesome Song”
5. More Behind The Picture Than The Wall, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Doyle Lawson has made a career singing Gospel bluegrass. His latest release doesn’t deviate from that interpretation or traditional bluegrass instrumentation, but it does tackle songs written by some of pop-country’s finest tunesmiths. The result is a collection of greater lyrical depth than most bluegrass records. However, it’s the Gospel interpretation that makes some of these songs absolutely timeless, as evidenced by “The Selfishness in Man,” a song tackled by artists from George Jones to Ricky Skaggs but not perfected until now. — Matt C.
Recommended: “The Phone Call,” “The Selfishness in Man,” “More Behind the Picture than the Wall”
4. Easy Money, John Anderson
It’s not completely traditional and the MuzikMafia’s influence is apparent, which may or may not be a good thing depeding on who you ask, but with a voice like the one John Anderson possesses, it doesn’t really matter; his voice alone exemplifies country music. The uptempo songs don’t sound like they’ve been rehashed a million times over and aren’t loud for the sake of being “Loud,” while they easily outshine the current crop of southern rockers flooding the country genre. The slower ballads, however, are where the album earns its keep. Couple John Anderson’s voice with the strong material from Easy Money and you have one of the best albums of the year. — Brady Vercher
Recommended: “Bonnie Blue,” “A Woman Knows,” “You Already Know My Love”
3. Wagonmaster, Porter Wagoner
Unlike Johnny Cash’s last recordings, Porter Wagoner’s swan song is all about rebirth. Recorded a year after Wagoner suffered a near-fatal abdominal aortic aneurysm, Wagonmaster is not the work of a man speaking from the grave. It’s a remarkably vital collection of songs that brought Wagoner to national television, Madison Square Garden, and numerous other appearances that were preempted by his sudden passing. Wagoner performed his new material weekly at the Grand Ole Opry: “Who Knows Right from Wrong” was the last song that Wagoner ever performed. Wagonmaster is a survey of the music that Wagoner spent a lifetime producing, and it’s representative both in theme and quality. The country Gospel tunes, the recitations, the ballads and the jaunty novelty tunes are all there, and it’s not hard to imagine most of the tracks on this collection becoming classic recordings if handed to Wagoner in 1958. — Matt C.
Recommended: “Committed to Parkview,” “Men With Broken Hearts / I Heard that Lonesome Whistle Blow,” “My Many Hurried Southern Trips”
2. Everything is Fine, Josh Turner
Whether Turner is bellowing blistering honky-tonk numbers or crooning poetic ballads he sounds wholly within his element and with the possible exception of “Trailerhood”, he couldn’t have picked a better collection of songs to effectively highlight his strengths and carry forward the momentum set in motion by his early radio success. — Brody Vercher
Recommended: “Another Try,” “Nowhere Fast,” “The Longer the Waiting (The Sweeter the Kiss)”
1. Heaven, Heartache, And The Power Of Love, Trisha Yearwood
With Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love, Mrs. Garth Brooks reasserted herself as a country powerhouse, delivering a string of captivating vocal performances over a core of wonderfully crafted, musically diverse songs. While most of her female contemporaries tried to find their niche market (and thus, their niche musical approach) in 2007, Yearwood’s 10th studio album shattered expectations by successfully drawing from many of the genre’s root influences. Western, Blues, Americana, this album brought them all together under the big-tent of country music, and the result was a rich, textured album that will be remembered and listened to for years to come. — Jim Malec
Recommended: “Dreaming Fields,” “Cowboys Are My Weakness,” “Sing You Back To Me”
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December 10, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I’m afraid there’s a typo here. Somehow Little Big Town was inadvertently omitted.
December 10, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Let’s see, my favorites include: Sunny Sweeney’s “Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame”, Sarah Buxton’s full self-titled debut album (only available as advance copies), Ashley Monroe’s “Satisfied” (advance copy), Sarah Johns’ “Big Love In a Small Town” (just because its real country), Elizabeth Cook’s “Balls”, and at the top of the list from down under comes Kirsty Lee Akers’ debut “Little Things”. Its no wonder some folks think I’m a little off…….
December 10, 2007 at 11:38 pm
None of these people are top ten potential according to record sales. This list makes no sense.
December 10, 2007 at 11:39 pm
Sorry need to edit. I forgot Brad I would put him in the top ten above Trisha.
December 10, 2007 at 11:47 pm
And what would your list have looked like, Chris?
————
You mentioned some good albums, Rick. Some of those actually appear on our staff lists. You’re not that far off…
————
I think it’s been mentioned quite a few times, Betty, but sales do not equal quality. Sorry to burst your bubble.
December 11, 2007 at 12:36 am
33% of the records on this list are mainstream, top of the chart albums…
December 11, 2007 at 8:33 am
I am having to agree with Rick and Chris – I love the new LBT album, it is amazing, and I love Sarah Buxton, Ashley Monroe and Sarah Johns who all have wonderful new albums — but then again a lot of the albums on this list are more mainstream but some are not….I am somewhat mainstream in some ways and then in others I am not…I am actually thinking that I am going to have to buy the Trisha album now after all this buzz.
December 11, 2007 at 8:40 am
Dear Betty: Rascal Flatts sold a ton, would they be on your list? They also use more hair gel than a trio of men should be legally allowed, does that count? The Spice Girls sold millions of tickets in only a few minutes recently, more than Dale Watson or Charlie Louvin may sell in a lifetime, does that mean the spice girls are of a higher quality than those two?
December 11, 2007 at 8:50 am
I purchased about 150 Country CDs this year – I will write my top ten list elsewhere but my number 1 will be IN A PERFECT WORLD by Gene Watson. Watson like Ray Price and Tony Bennett, is simply a superlative interpreters of songs. The difference is that Watson’s voice still is in peak condition while Bennett and Price have begun, at long last, to slide down the mountain
December 11, 2007 at 9:06 am
Thanks Kelly – I agree just because people like Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood sell lots of albums does not mean that there albums are the best of the year….and I would not buy either of their albums if someone gave me the money to buy them….
December 11, 2007 at 9:16 am
I’m not going to quibble with the gang’s choices here. Everyone has their own taste, and these are all, at the very least, good records, and some of them are flat-out great.
I will say that 2007 was not a good year for anyone in Country to come out with a sub-par record, because consumers, who were not in a buying mood to begin with, sussed out the pretenders from the contenders. Even highly established artists like Chesney, Rascal Flatts, and Brooks & Dunn fell short of sales expectations (in my mind because their records were also somewhat disappointing). If you weren’t completely fresh (Taylor Swift) or on a comeback (The Eagles), then the big numbers just didn’t materialize for many acts. Even Paisley, who has had two #1 singles and a successful tour, hasn’t sold well in comparison to earlier efforts.
December 11, 2007 at 10:23 am
@Brady: I’ve got to compile five or six different best-of-’07 lists for various publications, so I’ll get back to you on that.
December 11, 2007 at 10:45 am
“wide swath that is the staff’s diverse musical affections”
–this is a sarcastic joke, right? i mean, your picks are so-so, but you do not exactly have a diverse opinion on music. I have read your blog for a few weeks now and can pretty much how you will feel about any given record. maybe you should enlist an outsider, with completely different tastes?
December 11, 2007 at 10:56 am
I’ll third the Little Big Town vote. I can’t stop listening to that thing. I’m also glad Matt C. gave Lori McKenna a nod. Unglamorous is probably my favorite album this year, and I’m convinced the title track could be a No. 1 single. (It’s not her debut album, though it’s her first on a major label, which accounts for the glossier sound …)
December 11, 2007 at 11:06 am
Mike, that whole sentence was meant partly as a joke, but when it comes to our different tastes, they are fairly diverse. How would you pigeonhole us?
December 11, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Nice list. thanks for a great year!
December 11, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Thanks for putting Josh Turner as #2!!This is an awesome list because it leaves put some of the Pop-Country you always hear.
December 11, 2007 at 4:53 pm
well, i’m just hoping for that long-awaited daron norwood return. the stage has been set.
December 11, 2007 at 8:13 pm
You know I seen this top 10. I seen who was #1, so I downloaded some of Yearwood’s tracks from the cd. I loved them. Her voice is amazing. Crisp and clear with actual life in it. So then I downloaed the rest of the cd on I tunes. I can see why this cd made the #1 spot. I’ve had this cd for less than a day and I love it. Great choice. Oh and by the way I own 7 of the 10 titles in this top 10 hehe ( thanks )
December 12, 2007 at 9:23 am
I see diversity in the lists of the individual bloggers. It’s understandable that there are some similarities. Each of the guys work together on this site and share certain tastes and visions. Also, those of us who visit the site religiously are going to feel very familiar with the choices, since we have read the reviews and understand how all the 9513 boys feel about Turner, Paisley, Johnson, Watson, etc… Look at the “rock” year end lists in Paste Magazine, Rolling Stone, Spin, Harp, etc…you will see 7 or 8 albums that each of them put near the top, that is because those publications share a vision and focus. Great lists, nice blending of “mainstream” and “alternative” in my opinion.
December 14, 2007 at 10:52 am
If Easy Money wasn’t on this list I was going to leave quite the long comment, but it was… so I’m happy. Fifth Gear belongs on here too.
One that was overlooked is Find Out Who Your Friends are, that more than belongs on here.
December 14, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I just don’t get all the fuss about Brad Paisley! I felt some of his songs that went to #1 were goofy…such as Ticks! He just doesn’t sing that good to me. He just talks to music! JMO! Dierks Bentlely sings better than him and his songs aren’t as goofy!
December 14, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Paisley can sing, pick up his album and you’ll hear for yourself. He’s one of those guys where just about any track could be a single.
If you ever get the chance to see Brad live, go and see him. He’s a lot of fun and one of the most impressive guitar players out there.
December 20, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I agree with the list. Trisha Yearwood has a fabulous voice. It is a lot better in concert. The album is amazing to listen to. I was hoping that it would be up for a grammy too.
January 9, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Taylor swift should be number one her songs are amazing. Teardrop on my guitar, our song, and cold as you. I think the pop-country you are against. It is the new country music half of these people i never heard of. everyone knows about carrie underwood, Taylor swift and rascal flatts because they are the most like. Taylor wrote all of her song and it is great album. The only one i could see on her is brad barely. Trisha yearwood and josh turner have bad voices. They could not compete with carrie. everyone else never heard of them. So the list should go Taylor Swift first then carrie underwood the rascal flatts
January 10, 2008 at 4:00 am
Trisha Yearwood and Josh Turner have bad voices? Wow.
January 14, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Jamey Johnson rules! That Lonesome Song is such a terrific album that it’s disappointing he’s not reaching the broader audience he deserves. Still can’t believe he got booted from his label. I was lucky to see him in San Jose in 2006 and man did he and his band tear the roof off the place.
January 17, 2008 at 5:40 am
Tim Mcgraw’s Let It Go is probadly the best album of his career. It has some amazing songs too bad they choose the wrongs singles.
Yhe best on the album has not been singles, sometimes I don’t understand what they are thinking when they leave amazing songs like Whiskey And You, Train #10, I’m Workin, Let It Go, Shotgun Rider, Between The River And Me as album cuts and release Last Dollar and Suspicions.
The amazing songs and #1 singles that have been left as album cuts by Tim is staggering. Whoever picks the singles needs to rethink what they are doing.
Songs like I’ve Got Friends That Do, Blank Sheet of Paper, Old Town New left as albums cuts is criminal when you think of some of the songs they did release.
Still one of the top albums of the year.
January 17, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I own 3 cds on your 10 top list. I’m not much on Mainstream country.
Dale Watson
Porter Wagoner
Doyle Lawson
I also as a fan did a top ten list.
1. Everybody’s Brother: Billy Joe Shaver
2. Wagon Master: Porter Wagoner
3. Charlie Louvin: Charlie Louvin
4.Idle Talk and Wicked Deeds: Flat Mountain Girls
5 From the Cradle to the Grave: Dale Watson
6.The Last suit you wear: Larry Sparks.
7.In a Perfect World: Gene Watson
8.Elizabeth Cook: Balls
9.Volatile Baby: Back roads
10.Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver: More behind the picture than the wall
January 18, 2008 at 7:26 pm
10. Leann Rimes
9. Miranda Lambert
8.Brad Paisley
7.Tim McGraw
6.Kellie Pickler
5.Kieth Urban
4.Sarah Evans
3. Rascal Flatt
2. Carrie Underwood
1. Taylor Swift
This were the best Ten Albums of the year and were great. None of those 10 were good except Brad. The next one to come up is Josh Turner around upper thirty. His first good song of his career Firecracker. Long black train is probably the worst song i have ever heard.
January 18, 2008 at 7:34 pm
their top tens albums this kind of music is DEAD
The new type of country is pop-country and without it country would be gone by now so
Yay Pop-Country
January 18, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Actually Long Black Train has the makings to become a classic country song.
January 18, 2008 at 7:50 pm
ummm not so much that song sucked it was not very popular compared to other songs and his voice is so deep its horrible. The video sucked to.
It could not match the popularity of Before he cheats and Teardrops on my guitar
January 18, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Popularity doesn’t equal a great song all the time.
January 18, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Taylor Swift is the greatest singer songwritter Every
still popularity makes it a classic
like I Need You by Leann Rimes Classic
because it was hugely popular. to become a classic it has to be popular so people still remember it. And if it wasn’t for how much i hated the song i would have forgot bout it by now
January 18, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I’m not a fan of Taylor Swift. Compare her songwriting to Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson. Then we will talk about who is the greatest songwriter.
January 18, 2008 at 8:22 pm
And Taylor still better
Yay her
January 18, 2008 at 8:24 pm
look at Taylor Song that were not huge hits her song writing is the best ever they can not compare to her. She is the best. Deal with it
January 18, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Hey Tyler,
I assume you’re quite young, and I agree with you – Taylor is great.
But you can’t be putting down other amazing artists like Josh Turner and Trisha Yearwood. Especially considering they truly have some of the most polished voices in music today! I wouldn’t be surprised if “Long Black Train” is considered a folk song as far as 1,000 years from now. It has the potential to be one of those songs that everybody knows, even if the artist and writer get lost in time.
January 18, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Kellie Pickley and Taylor Swift both released their albums in 2006 and thus were not eligible for this list. Sara Evans and Keith Urban had greatest hits albums in 2007, but not traditional studio albums.
January 18, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Miranda Miranda Miranda- so CXGF is good enough for Billboards list but not ya’lls??
January 19, 2008 at 8:00 am
Tyler,
I can see that Taylor is your favorite. Merle Haggard had 40 number ones 22 of which he wrote himself.
One of his songs he co-wrote with wife Bonnie Owens “Today I started Loving You Again” has been recorded by numrous artists in differnt genres.
Willie Nelson was famous as a songwriter before he was a singer with Pasty Cline’s “Crazy”
January 19, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Taylor was rereleased her CD this year so it should count
January 19, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I listen to Crazy it was on Leann Rimes Greatest hits CD and i thought the song was not amazingly written.
And greatest hit should count because there are new songs on it. Like Sara Evans As if was one of her best song the only one i like more is i couldn’t asked for more.
January 19, 2008 at 5:48 pm
The Jim guy had Garth brooks on his top ten and it was greatest hit CD.
January 19, 2008 at 6:00 pm
You think Taylor’s songs about Puppy love are well written? Haggard, Nelson and Cash all were in the Nashville songwriters Hall of Fame 17 years before Taylor was born.
January 19, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Taylor Swift obsessive-compulsive disorder aside – there’s no need to dis other artists who have easily earned their place in the Country legends pantheon.
At least she didn’t call Taylor Phabulous. ;)
January 19, 2008 at 6:05 pm
CCF–I think Taylor’s songs about puppy love are well written, at least from a craft standpoint.
January 19, 2008 at 6:06 pm
just because they are old doesn’t mean anything
The reason Taylor writing is so could is because she is so young and fresh. She is not like any other singer before.
And Did they have a song that they wrote and sang when they were as young as her
January 19, 2008 at 6:09 pm
… and can you type a cohesive sentence?!?!
January 19, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I think the song crazy was good only because of the singer who sang it. They both sang it well but it wasn’t really that great of song. Pasty Cline and Leann Rimes
January 19, 2008 at 6:11 pm
And Peter Tyler is a guys name you idiot
January 19, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but that opinion is not necessarily of equal validity–point being that if you’re going to declare that one of the greatest songs in the history of American music “isn’t that great of a song,” you’re going to need to back up your argument.
January 19, 2008 at 6:17 pm
my back up it that the singer helped more than the words
Crazy, crazy for feelin’ so lonely
Yes I’m crazy, crazy for feelin’ so blue.
I knew, you’d love me as long as you wanted.
And then someday,
It takes a great singing to make the song interesting
January 19, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Vanna, for $500 I’d like to buy a clue for this prolific poster.
January 19, 2008 at 6:23 pm
eww that show is for old people
January 19, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Ray Price also recorded Crazy. My point was they have been known as singer/songwriters before Taylor was born.
January 19, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Okay so they were part of Dead country.
January 19, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Sorry, but I have to agree with everyone else Tyler – Crazy was an amazing song, and it would be amazing no matter whether Patsy was singing it or Leann and I happen to have both versions – just because you do not happen to have any respect for the music that allowed for Taylor Swift and the rest to now have a career then you need to think — because w/o Willie, Johnny and Waylon and the rest there would not be country music as it is now – and yes I like the “country-pop” but I also love the classic stuff – and Josh Turner’s Long Black Train is an amazing song and his deep voice is what sets him apart from the rest instead of being a carbon copy and the video was amazing.
January 19, 2008 at 7:07 pm
You know, it’s a cultural reference, not a statement of support for Pat Sajak.
By your standard we adults could easily just dismiss your ramblings about the quality of Taylor Swift’s songs as juvenile and narrow-minded.
Most people here view Taylor Swift as a talent, one to be watched and encouraged. But that doesn’t mean we throw out the entire history of recorded Country music to reach that conclusion.
January 19, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Johnny Cash and Pasty Cline are the only one who are dead that I mentioned. Merle, Willie, and Ray Price still record music. If fact they recorded a double masterpiece cd last called “Last of the Breed”
January 19, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I know Taylor Swift gets a lot of flak for writing about puppy love. But its not a shallow topic — to a teenager (or anyone experiencing puppy love) it is exciting, mysterious, wondrous.
I think many of us see puppy love as an inferior form of real love because we leave puppy love behind and evolve to the kind of love found in long term marriages. But most long term marriages started as puppy love, and that alone is a good reason not to disparage the feeling. Moreover, the fact that we leave one stage in a relationship and enter into a new stage doesnt necessarily mean that the first stage was inferior, or “less deep.”
I’d also add that a lot of “country classics” are either about an adult form of puppy love, infatuation, or they are universal enough that they could apply to love in all its forms.
Taylor Swift is not yet on the level of Harlan Howard as a songwriter, but her lyrics should not be dismissed as childish because they concern “puppy love.”
January 20, 2008 at 8:12 am
There are artists that I thank for creating areas of Taylor music. But they would be Shaina Twain, Faith Hill, Sara Evans, Leann Rimes
January 20, 2008 at 8:35 am
CCF when i meant Dead i was saying at a form country no one listen to anymore. That why you don’t here that type on radio or on TV
And For the fifth week Taylor Swift “Our Song” is number one on CMT Top Twenty.
January 20, 2008 at 9:52 am
Well, apparently a pretty fair majority of those populating this blog seem to find a bunch of life in the music you deem to be “dead.” In fact, we find it to have as much or more life in it than some music being recorded and released right now.
Great music is timeless. That’s the beauty of it.
I like what Taylor Swift is doing. Country music tends to not allow young talents to shine through, with rare exception. I think her music is fresh, especially for teenage girls like yourself who have only had smut pop artists like Britney, Paris, Pussycat Dolls, Danity Kane, and Fergie as your primary female musical stars of the past couple of years. Taylor speaks honestly about the teen experience, much more so than artists like that.
January 20, 2008 at 10:10 am
Tyler,
It’s not dead on the online station I listen to. In fact your’ll hear it and not Taylor, Carrie, Kenny, Tim, Faith etc on it.
January 20, 2008 at 11:12 am
hairandtoenails,
Harlan was one of my favorite writers now there was a prolific writer.The hits he wrote No wonder he was called “The Dean Of Songwriters”
January 20, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Tyler, I’m having a very hard time reading your posts. I take it English is not your first language.
January 20, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Long black train as a metaphor for the evil in this world is positively brilliant and the video was a perfect visual illustration.
January 20, 2008 at 12:35 pm
That’s why Long Black Train is so brilliant. It has a deep meaning.
January 20, 2008 at 8:05 pm
How old was Josh when he wrote Long Black Train?
January 20, 2008 at 8:58 pm
My first language is French J’adore Taylor Swift
January 20, 2008 at 9:01 pm
CCF that my point you have to go online to get the music it is not on Radio and they are not up for any award. Like Carrie and Taylor in the Grammy
January 20, 2008 at 9:06 pm
@CCF: He was 21.
January 20, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Tyler, thanks for the clarification on the language. I know how difficult it can be with translations. I used to travel to France regularly a few years ago. Taylor writes some good lyrics. The test of staying power will be time, like anything in life worth remembering.
January 21, 2008 at 8:22 am
“[...] they are not up for any award. Like Carrie and Taylor in the Grammy”
Tyler, it might behoove you to become familiar with the facts before you spew out misinformed information. For any music to be considered for a Grammy, it has to meet certain criteria, for instance, being released during the period of eligibility. Two of the artists that you have continually berated (which won’t be tolerated), Trisha Yearwood and Josh Turner, both released albums that were not released in the Grammy eligibility period, therefore they are not up for an award.
Trisha Yearwood did release a single, “Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love,” during that period and it is eligible, in the same category as Carrie Underwood (Best Female Country Vocal Performance). On top of that, Trisha Yearwood has numerous Grammy nominations, including three wins. Seven of her ten non-compilations albums have been nominated, which would seem to suggest that she records excellent music.
As for Josh Turner, he was nominated for two Grammys just last year, one of which was for the song “Would You Go With Me?” He wasn’t eligible for nomination this year except for “Firecracker,” which you have deemed to be the first good song of his career.
Based upon that information, you might want to reevaluate your stance since you seem to base worthiness on Grammy nominations.
Also, please tone down your rhetoric or we’ll have to start removing some of your comments. Specifically, we don’t appreciate repeated attacks on artists out of context, attacks on other readers, trolling, or comment abuse, especially while assuming a fake email address. Thanks for your cooperation.
January 21, 2008 at 10:42 am
Thanks for the info Chris
January 21, 2008 at 4:40 pm
But those singer were not up for any of the top four and considered most important.
Newcomer of the year Taylor Swift
And Song of the year Carrie Underwood
You never answered the question about why greatest hit CD didn’t count when Jim had Garth Brooks in his top Ten and Taylor Cd rereleased
January 21, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Newcomer of the Year has a much, much smaller pool of eligible participants, and therefore it is statistically easier to become nominated. If her album and songs were as good as you claim, they would have easily garnered a nomination in the country album and vocal performance categories. Since she didn’t garner said nominations, should we consider Trisha Yearwood to be a better artist because she did get nominated and Taylor didn’t?
Song of the Year is actually an award for songwriters, so technically, Carrie Underwood isn’t up for nomination in that category. Nice try, though.
Just for the record, I don’t consider comparisons between artists based on awards to be worthwhile, I just wanted to show how flawed your logic is.
January 21, 2008 at 5:24 pm
They didn’t win anything on the CMT award show thing either like Carrie and Taylor
Horizon Award Taylor
And song of the year Carrie underwood
And Carrie won where people text for best song and it was all music just not country and won
January 21, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I was really surprised that Porter’s Wagonmaster cd didn’t get a nod. It’s a great legacy he left behind.
January 21, 2008 at 5:29 pm
i know that it is for the song writer and the record is for the singer but it still took her to get there. And the newcomer even though less eligible is still held as more prestigious than when you break it up into section. Your only up for it once. This also means out of everyone that came out she is in the top 5 at least. Really no one has a chance besides Amy Winehouse but she on too much drugs to win
you keep go around the question about why greatest hit CD didn’t count when Jim had Garth Brooks in his top Ten and Taylor Cd rereleased
January 21, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Serenity now… serentiy now…
January 21, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Tyler–our rules did not stipulate that a greatest hit album was not eligible. But the issues was not pushed.
Further, I am going to have to ask you to please keep your comments to one at a time — if you have something to add after you click “submit” you’ll need to go back and edit your comment.
January 21, 2008 at 7:05 pm
How do you edit your comments?
March 3, 2008 at 10:35 pm
hey everyone i’m in love with Kirsty Lee Akers songs at the moment. mainly “Little Things”
Don’t you agree?
March 3, 2008 at 10:36 pm
just thought i would add that! catch ya!